Filling A Bag Will Lead To Feeding Thousands

March 26 Scouting for Food drive to help stock shelves for spring months

SALT LAKE CITY, March 14, 2011 - For a quarter of a century, young men have helped improve the lives of those less fortunate by "Scouting for Food." Utah's 25^th Annual Scouting for Food drive to be held Saturday, March 26 will help stock the shelves of Utah Food Bank and emergency food pantries statewide. Food drive donations received through Scouting for Food are imperative as the holiday donations supply dwindles and the spring months progress. The community is urged to help make this drive successful by donating to help feed Utahns in need.

Cub scouts will deliver Scouting for Food bags to every Utah home during the week of March 21. Each residence is encouraged to fill the bag with nutritious food donations such as canned fruit, vegetables and meat and place on the doorstep by 9 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, March 26. That day, Boy Scouts will go door-to-door collecting the filled bags to deliver to Utah Food Bank and emergency food pantries statewide. Siegfried & Jensen are sponsoring the media campaign and the Utah National Guard, YRC and Xtra Lease will provide in-kind assistance with transportation and logistics needs.

"The need for food assistance throughout Utah has risen dramatically in the past year and thousands of Utahns are forced to choose between the very basics including rent and food," Jim Pugh, CEO of Utah Food Bank, said. "These are choices that no one should have to make, especially households with children. Through Scouting for Food, our goal is to ensure that fewer individuals face this sobering reality."

Last year, the Scouting for Food drive generated approximately one million pounds of food for Utah's emergency food network. More than 500,000 pounds was delivered to Utah Food Bank which then distributed the food to its network of 150 pantries and agencies.

Interview & Photo Opportunities: On Tuesday, March 22 at 4 p.m., a media conference will be held at the Utah State Capitol Rotunda featuring Lt. Governor Greg Bell and representatives from Boy Scouts of America, the Utah National Guard, Utah Food Bank, Utah's emergency food network and the Utah National Guard.

About Utah Food Bank

Utah Food Bank provides food to a statewide network of 150 emergency food pantries and agencies statewide. Last fiscal year, Utah Food Bank distributed 30.8 million pounds of food, the equivalent of over 23 million meals for families and individuals in need. Utah Food Bank also served 221,237 Kids Cafe meals, delivered 26,472 senior food boxes and answered 114,994 calls through its 2-1-1 Information & Referral service. For more information about Utah Food Bank call (801) 978-2452 or visit http://www.utahfoodbank.org/. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UtahFoodBank and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/UtahFoodBank.